AIBU to wonder why people don't turn up to interviews?

[BillyAndTheSillies]

Have just started a new role in a small admin team who are looking to fill another position.

Received over 100 applications, filtered down to 8 people for interview.

2 people turned up. One of the six who didn't turn up called in the morning to rearrange the time to half an hour later. This was done for her, and then she didn't turn up.

The others didn't turn up with no correspondence at all, apart from one applicant who emailed 6 hours after their interview time to say they had the flu.

I just don't get it. Why go through correspondence and arranging times to just not turn up. Considering how much diary organisation goes in to scheduling interviews, time out of work for the people interviewing etc.

Everyone was given an option of time slots and we were flexible around days so it wasn't like the interviews weren't designed to fit in with applicants needs. Considering how much we see about unemployment, aibu to wonder why people apply for jobs and just don't acknowledge not coming to an interview?

Nerves

I have had people turn up late (no interview and HR backed me up) at a place with four bus routes, a tube station and National Rail station nearby. Once or twice someone fail, but lateness the usual one.

What I think is needed is some accurate (not dishonest) way of others knowing about this, so the lack of basic contact if someone cannot make an interview or changes their mind has consequences.

Same reason people don't text back, don't respond to party invitations, (and don't turn up to the party,) don't turn up for doctor appointments, don't turn up to meet you for coffee (or are half hour late,) don't do much at work and expect people to pick up the slack etc etc etc....... they are ignorant, entitled, thoughtless arseholes who think the world revolves around them.

6 out of 8 not turning up for a job interview is very strange though. 1 or 2 out of the 8 yeah, but 6?

Better offer from your current employer?

They applied for 3 jobs and got one already? Or perhaps just test-drove their cv?

I think it's almost acceptable to not acknowledge an invitation to interview, but they had accepted and agreed times. Lots of communication.

Double checked the JD online and the location is clearly stated so not sure why people would apply if it was too far away. Like PP, location is in zone 2 london, 5 minutes from the station that has multiple tube lines and national rail and a bus station.

On job seekers and applying for jobs because they have to?

What Pam said - applying to jobs because they have to.

It’s terrible manners! Why wouldn’t a perspective employee send a quick email “unfortunately I will not be able to attend interview on x,y. I have been offered another role/have decided not to leave current employer.
I sincerely thank you for the opportunity, it would have been a great opportunity to work with your company,
I apologise for any inconvenience caused.

Thanks again.

I imagine I’d you are applying for a job in any industry you’d need to make as many good relationships as possible. Politeness should surely come first.

I imagine HR would be thinking ah not that rude fucker if you apply for another role in the future after not turning up!

Reasons I've heard people mention over the years:
Finance? Can't afford the travel costs to attend the interview.

Better job offer

No childcare

Illness

Lied on the application and can't see it through

Drunk/drugs hangover from the night before

Just changed their mind

I work for a small charity , which actually has a larger role than this implies but won't say what for outing purposes.

We offer professional medical grade posts in a specialist area, entry level positions in various administrative and support roles and well paid career enhancing positions. The number of people not turning up for interview staggers me, as does the number who can't even be bothered to phone or text beforehand or afterwards to explain. Interviews mean at least two people taken from their normal work, rooms out of action for interviews and practical tests, additional paperwork preparation and planning by the interviewers. Add to that the cost of advertising positions (most on our own website but some nationally ) and it becomes a huge cost and drain on our resources. But what can you do, apart from keep a record of the non attendees and refuse them other interviews, and believe me some have tried that one!

It’s frustrating for me to hear because I’m applying for many admin jobs and not even being invited to interviews! I’d be there early and would do an excellent job

I have had roles where I handle massive recruitment drives think someone 50 hours or 50 interviews a week.

I always send at least two confirmations of the interview, format, role information by email and request that if they can not make it they let me know. I find that saves time in the long run. Sometimes agencies are pretty useless and try put people under pressure to come to interviews at ridiculous times with no notice to the candidate as the agent just wants their commission.

I also congratulate candidates for getting through the stages of shortlisting and checked if their were any requirements or adjustments that we needed to make from my end.

This seems to work and I got hardly any cancellations. Or if I did people realised early on why they didn't want to proceed.

Also I felt it was the right way to start of the employment relationship.

In the first interview I always gave people insight into the role - realistic insight Including real hours.

Also I have had nervous candidates that have had a bad interview due to nerves and invited them back and then hired them too.

I spent a lot of time checking people out but once they were selected for interview I trailed to make them feel welcome.

I didn't always have time to give feedback to unsuccessful candidates and made that clear but I always got back to people quickly with the outcome.

And I like to think I know how challenging interviewing is and what it is like to be out of work or support others or a family on my income.

Too nervous

Got another job offer (I missed an interview once because of this)

Don't really want the job

Ill/accident

Traffic or transport problems and decided turning up late would be a waste of time

Good luck with the job hunting grind jennyonaplate

I had someone come 40 minutes late last week. There had been loads of problems with the trains that day so said we'd still see her.

She didn't really bother to apologise or explain and when we looked at her address she was coming from about 20 mins away.

She won't get it!

@hesterton I also once accepted a job by telephone at 7pm but had another interview scheduled for 8am the next morning in a city that was three hours away by train. I stuck to my original plan (travelled that evening and stayed overnight in a hotel) and attended the interview as planned to apologise that I had already accepted the same role elsewhere. The panel were very upset with the HR person (for scheduling interviews after those of their main competitor), thanked me for travelling, and paid my accommodation/travel expenses.

In a way the OP should probably be delighted by "no shows" as those people have selected themselves out and probably weren't employable anyway.

I used to do this regularly because though I wanted the Job I had awful crippling untreated anxiety and depression. I was desperate to get a good job and thus approval of parents/society. I'd be thrilled to get the interview then just terrified to attend. I have wasted so many years and opportunities thus.

I’m doing interviews on Wednesday. Actually just been wondering how many will actually turn up!
It amazes me tbh!

Maybe for the same reasons that many employers don't send any feedback or the outcome of a failed application or interview.

Courtesy works both ways.

I have never failed to show up for an interview, but a couple of times I have considered cancelling the interview as the email inviting me to the interview was written in a rude manner and other communications with the firm had also been off. In these cases I ended up calling them afterwards and saying no to the job anyway as the people interviewing me also seemed off. Turned out later that one of the companies was under investigation for fraud and it was a financial position, I was applying for, so it was the CFO and the CEO I had been interviewed by. The other company went down shortly after.

God I hate people like this. I understand that beyond the train running late, sudden massive emergency, there are other aforementioned reasons like anxiety, being unsure if the role is right for you or even being hungover. But surely all of these allow you to spend 30 seconds writing a two line email saying 'sorry, but will not be attending interview'. I absolutely can't stand people who think it's ok to waste other people's time.

It's an admin type role isn't it?

Admin isn't really anyone's dream job and there are always a lot of semi-skilled admin roles available in most places. That means people probably won't be looking at your interviews as an "opportunity they just can't miss".

It's rude to not just not show up. But these days companies often don't bother to let candidates know if their applications aren't successful either. This has created a culture where ghosting is more acceptable during the hiring process. It cuts both ways.

The main reasons are nerves, having been accepted for another job, or just not really wanting your job in the first place.

Interviews are nerve-wracking and someone with anxiety issues may not be able to face coming in. Some of them may even get to your building and not have the courage to come inside. Someone in this position may think that for their own sanity they would be better off not attending.

People applying for your job have probably applied for others too. I personally attended an interview having just accepted another role. I probably should have cancelled but I felt it would be rude to cancel at short notice. Others may just not turn up. (The interview was appalling by the way, I instantly felt something was not quite right with the company and was glad to get out of there.)

Then there's the last group. Some people have a hobby of applying for jobs they have no interest in. Why, who knows? I had a gentlemen apply for every job I advertised over a three year period. I eventually gave in and offered an interview, thinking his persistence was to be admired at lest, but he never turned up for it. You've also got the people applying because their mother is making them. They don't want a job, they are just forced to apply for them. No surprise when they don't turn up, and no great loss either!

Remember that when you offer an interview, you are in the position of power. You have the power over someone's future. The applicant may feel that they owe you nothing, since you are holding all the cards, so if they decide not to attend, why bother?